18 December 2003 15:42
Russian plant for chemical weapons destruction works steadily

The chemical weapons destruction plant in Gornyy, Saratov Region, is working to full capacity and showing stable operation. More than five tonnes of lewisite have been disposed since the commissioning of the technological line for the destruction of this combat chemical agent, the interregional information and analytical centre for issues related to safekeeping and destruction of chemical weapons told ITAR-TASS.

"The facility is being constantly monitored by stationary and movable control posts. The accepted levels of concentration of toxic substances have never been exceeded," the centre's experts say.

According to Viktor Petrunin, the general director of the state science-research institute of organic chemistry and technology and a doctor of chemical science, "the Russian technology of environmentally safe disposal of combat toxic agents is the best in the world"."Russia is ready to share its experience in eliminating yperite and lewisite with other countries," Petrunin said in an interview with ITAR-TASS.

The chairman of the Russian State Commission on Chemical Disarmament, Sergey Kiriyenko, said earlier to ITAR-TASS correspondent that Russia was ready to assist China in the destruction of chemical weapons left there by the Japanese troops during World War II.

"Russia has a unique experience in chemical weapons disposal. Regarding chemical disarmament as a common task of the world community, Russia is ready to provide its technologies, specialists and equipment to other countries on mutually beneficial terms," Kiriyenko said.